Juneau snowfall totals below average , just 51 inches so far

February 20, 2019

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The seasonal and annual snowfall amounts in Juneau this winter are well below average, according to National Weather Service figures.

National Weather Service meteorologist Nicole Ferrin said an expected snowstorm on Thursday will likely put the Juneau area above the monthly average snowfall for February, which is 11.8 inches (just shy of 30 centimeters), the Juneau Empire reported .

Right now, the monthly total is at 11.7 inches (29.7 centimeters).

“For the airport specifically, we are almost exactly at normal for the month,” Ferrin said. “We’ll probably go above that number this week.”

But Ferrin said 50.6 inches (128.5 centimeters) of snow has been recorded at the airport for the winter. A normal total is about 69 inches (about 175 centimeters).

“We’re actually below normal,” Ferrin said.

National Weather Service figures show the annual snowfall average in Juneau is 86.7 inches (220.2 centimeters). So far this year, 35.5 inches (90.2 centimeters) of snow have fallen.

Records show this could be the sixth straight year with below-average snowfall.

Ferrin said based on forecast models, after Thursday it could be a while before there is another significant amount of snow to add to 2019′s totals.

“After Thursday, we go back to a northerly, cooler flow pattern, and I don’t see another sign of precip in any of the models,” Ferrin said. “This Thursday event could be it for the month total.”